July 1, 2025 — The Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) Educational Trust announced it will award scholarships to 19 students planning to enter the agriculture industry. These scholarships offered through the Educational Trust totaled more than $24,000 for the Fall 2025 collegiate semester.
“With the partnership of leaders across Michigan agriculture, the Michigan Agri-Business Association Educational Trust continues to achieve impressive results and support young people statewide,” said MABA Educational Trust Chair Ward Forquer. “We thank all those Michigan agribusinesses that continue to step up with support. We are pleased to support these impressive young people as they prepare for industry careers.”
From 2020-2025, the MABA Educational Trust has awarded more than 150 scholarships to deserving young people pursuing higher education. Those awarded scholarships for Fall 2025 include:
Students are eligible to receive up to 4 scholarships from the MABA Educational Trust during their educational career. The next application deadline for the 2026 Spring semester is October 1, 2025. Go here for more information on the MABA Educational Trust Scholarship Program and encourage students you know going into the agribusiness industry to apply.
June 30, 2025 – MABA President Chuck Lippstreu joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk to discuss Michigan-Canada ag trade. The discussion followed an earlier meeting between Lippstreu and Ontario Agri Business Association members the previous week.
“Michigan exports $3 billion in value worth of [agricultural] products every year,” Lippstreu noted in the discussion. “40 to 45% of that moves to Canada. So $1.2, 1.3 billion worth of exports into Canada every year….it’s an incredibly important market for us.”
The conversation covered ongoing U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, the upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge in the Detroit area, and beyond.
Listen to the full interview at this link.
North American agricultural trade remains a top priority for Michigan
HUNTSVILLE, Ontario – Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) President Chuck Lippstreu on Tuesday emphasized the critical importance of a strong U.S.-Canada agricultural trade relationship in remarks to Canadian agribusiness leaders.
“When it comes to agricultural trade, the Michigan-Canada partnership is second-to-none. We need to grow the opportunity – not diminish it – and the pieces are in place to achieve that goal,” said Lippstreu, speaking at the 2025 Ontario Agri Business Association Summer Conference.
“Every year, billions of dollars in agricultural and food products move between Michigan and Canada. Many of our Michigan agribusinesses operate seamlessly between Michigan and Ontario, and with the upcoming completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, there’s even more potential for the future. We are hopeful ongoing negotiations between the United States and Canada will position our region to continue growing as a hub for North American trade, travel and investment.”
Lippstreu pointed to the Michigan-Ontario trade corridor as central to North American and global commerce, and emphasized the importance of trade for border states like Michigan:
Lippstreu reiterated MABA’s support for fair, free North American trade, noting the organization strongly supported the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) negotiated during President Trump’s first term in office.
“While our concerns continue around the potential for tariffs to stifle economic growth for Michigan, we are hopeful about ongoing trade negotiations with our state’s largest agricultural trading partner,” said Lippstreu. “This is an opportunity to continue economic growth and opportunity on both sides of the border.”
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Learn more about MABA at www.miagbiz.org
With extreme heat forecast across Michigan and the region beginning Saturday, June 21 through at least next Tuesday, June 24, MABA reminds all those working in Michigan agriculture, and throughout the Great Lakes states to be aware of the forecast change in conditions, heat safety and heat first aid steps. Heat illness can affect anyone!
This is an especially important message for those new to working outside. Heat illnesses are prevalent in those who are just starting out at their job, who may not be well-acclimatized to hot conditions.
Background: Extreme Heat Forecast
The National Weather Service has put Michigan in the center of an extreme heat advisory for next week. The image below (created June 20) shows Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and other parts of the upper Great Lakes in the NWS’ highest heat advisory category mid-next week. Many areas will experience mid to upper-90’s conditions, and in some places approach 100 degrees.
This highest NWS advisory category represents a “level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.”
Action Steps
Anyone working outside should keep this in mind and prepare in advance with:
Anyone showing the signs of heat exhaustion or stress needs to stop working, move somewhere cool and sip water. Learn more about these conditions and first aid response at: https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness.
The following map is from NWS HeatRisk. The map was generated Friday, June 20 showing forecast conditions for Monday, June 23.
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